Steerable medical puncture instrument

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a steerable mandrel comprising a stationary part and a movable part. The stationary part comprises a tubular sleeve having a mantle wall with a longitudinal semi-circumferential opening or weakening, which divides the stationary part into a proximal portion located on a proximal side of the longitudinal semi-circumferential opening or weakening and a distal portion located on distal side of the longitudinal semi-circumferential opening or weakening. The movable part comprises a rod-like member, which is slidable within the proximal portion of the stationary part. The movable part is attached to distal portion of the stationary part, such that relative movement of the movable part in relation to the stationary part causes a bending of the mandrel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to medical puncture instruments used for penetration of tissues in human or animal beings, and more specifically to a steerable needle, also referred to as a mandrel or stylet, used for the guiding of a penetrating medical instrument.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A problem with minimally invasive, percutaneous procedures is the limited control the operator has over the penetrating instrument once the instrument in question has been introduced beneath the skin of a patient; that is, the operator has only direct control over the insertion depth.

To achieve a higher degree of control, steerable devices, like needles and stylets, have been suggested. The U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0133168 discloses a needle guidance system comprising a stylet with a curved tip portion. The radius of curvature is, however, fixed, such that a specific curvature and a specific length of the curved portion have to be selected for the specific application at hand.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,652,491 is related to a stylet made from a shape-memory material. To introduce a curvature in the stylet, the stylet has to be heated.

A general object of the present invention is to provide an improved design for a steerable penetrating medical instrument, which enhances the manoeuvrability and thereby the control of the penetrating instrument.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-mentioned object is achieved by the present invention according to the independent claims.

Preferred embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a steerable mandrel, also referred to as a needle or stylet, which comprises a stationary part and a movable part. The movable part is attached to a distal portion of the stationary part in such a way that longitudinal movement of the movable part induces a bending of the stationary part and thereby a bending of the mandrel, at a distal portion thereof. By this arrangement, a steerable mandrel is provided, which is easy and safe to manoeuvre and whose bendable distal portion exhibits a radius of curvature that continuously can assume any curvature from no bending to a maximum curvature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal cross-section of a first embodiment of a steerable mandrel according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2 a-c illustrate schematically the functioning of the steerable mandrel shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 a-b show how the mandrel of FIG. 1 can be combined with a sleeve to form a steerable and penetrating medical instrument.

FIG. 4 a-c illustrate another medical instrument comprising the mandrel of FIG. 1 and a sleeve as well as handle for operating and steer the medical instrument.

FIGS. 5 a-e show cross-sections of a second embodiment of a steerable mandrel according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal cross-section of a steerable mandrel 1 according to the present invention. The mandrel 1, which also can be referred to as a stylet or needle, comprises two parts: a stationary part 2 and a movable part 3. The stationary part 2 comprises basically a hollow tube or sleeve, with a mantle wall, in which two slits 4 have been provided at a distal portion thereof. The slits 4 extend longitudinally on opposite sides in the mantle wall at the distal portion of the stationary part 2. The slits 4 do not extend all the way to the distal end of the stationary part 2, but end a distance proximally of the distal end of the stationary part, such that a non-slit end 5 is provided. The distal end 5 can be blunt or sharp, where the latter option is shown in the drawings. At the proximal side of slits 4, a small, semi-circular portion of the mantle wall has been cut away, such that the slits 4 end a short distance before the mantle of the hollow tube or sleeve commences at the proximal portion of the stationary part 2. In this way, the stationary part 2 is provided with a transverse gap or notch 6 at the proximal end of the slits 4.

The movable part 3 comprises basically a piston-like elongated member 3, which is slidable within the hollow stationary part 2. More specifically, the movable part 3 comprises a distal end 7, which is attached to the distal portion of the stationary part; and more specifically, the distal end 7 of the movable part 3 extends beneath the notch 6 and is attached to the mantle wall of the stationary part in close proximity to the distal side of the notch 6. Preferably, the distal end 7 of the movable part 3 is attached to the distal portion of the stationary part 2 at the same circumferential position as the notch 6 is provided in the mantle wall thereof (as is indicated in FIG. 1).

In FIGS. 2 a, 2 b and 2 c the functioning of the steerable mandrel 1 is illustrated schematically. In FIG. 2 a the stationary part 2, and in particular the distal portion thereof, and the movable part 3 are aligned with each other in a first or neutral position. In FIG. 2 b, the movable part 3 has been pushed into the stationary part 2. Due to the attachment of the distal end of the movable part 3 at the distal side of the notch 6, this movement causes a widening of the notch 6, which in turn induces a bending of the distal portion of the stationary part 2. In FIG. 2 b this bending is illustrated as bending in the downward direction. FIG. 2 c illustrates a bending in the upward direction, where the movable part 3 has been retracted a short distance out of the stationary part 2. This movement causes a narrowing of the notch 6, which in turn leads to a bending of the distal portion of the stationary part 2 in a direction which is opposite to the direction caused by the pushing action described in conjunction with FIG. 2 b.

The mandrel 1 alone can be used as a medical tool. If the mandrel 1 is provided with a sharp distal end, the mandrel 1 can be regarded as a steerable needle 1. It is, however, within the scope of the present invention that the mandrel 1 is part of a medical tool, which, besides the mandrel 1, also comprises a sleeve 10. The sleeve 10 and the mandrel 1 are separately depicted in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b, respectively; and are depicted in an assembled state in FIG. 3 c. The sleeve 10 should be made from elastic, i.e. bendable, material, such as a thin tube made from steel, preferably stainless steel, or nitinol. Preferably, also the mandrel 1 is made from steel or nitinol.

In use, the sleeve 10, with the mandrel or needle 1 inserted therein, is pushed through the skin of a patient, and is steered through tissue located beneath the skin to the target site of interest. By moving the movable part 3 relative to the stationary part 2, a bending of the mandrel or needle 1 is effectuated and thereby a corresponding bending of the sleeve 10. In this way the sleeve 10 can be steered in a desired way through the patient's body. A steering capability is, for example, desired when a target site is not located in a straight line from a desired entry point at the skin of patient. When the target site has been reached, the mandrel 1 can be removed, leaving only the sleeve 10 in place. Access to a desired location within a patient's body has thereby been obtained; presumably while sensitive or impenetrable areas located between the target site and the skin have been circumvented.

A somewhat more elaborated tool according to the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4 a to 4 b. FIG. 4 a shows a medical instrument 20 in a first, neutral position. The medical instrument 20 comprises a sleeve 21, which is separately illustrated in FIG. 4 c, and a mandrel 22. The mandrel 22 comprises, like mandrel 1, a stationary part and a movable part. In this embodiment, the movable part is, at its proximal end, provided with a handle 25, which is attached to an elongated, piston-like member, like in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. By turning handle 25 in a first direction, the movable part is moved relative to the stationary part, such that the distal portion of the stationary part is bent in a first direction; and by turning handle 25 in a second and opposite direction, the distal portion of the stationary part is bent in a second and opposite direction. By providing a turnable handle 25, the mandrel 22 and the sleeve 21 are locked in a desired bending. When the target site of interest has been reached, the mandrel 22 can be removed, leaving only the sleeve 21 in place.

It should be appreciated that the slits 4 and notch 6 can have a wide variety of geometries and also need not pass completely through the mantle wall (they can comprise a weakened area of the mantle wall). As another example, other ways of exerting force, offset from the centreline of the stationary part, on the distal end of the stationary part may be used.

In the embodiments described hitherto, the stationary part has also been the tissue penetrating part, i.e. a stationary part constitutes the most distal portion of a mandrel according to the present invention. In another embodiment, which is illustrated in FIG. 5 a to FIG. 5 e, a mandrel 30 is illustrated. The mandrel 30 comprises a stationary part 31 and a movable part 32. The stationary part 31 is basically an elongated tubular sleeve 31, in a distal portion of which a semi-circular piece has been cut away, such that the sleeve 31 is provided with an opening, e.g. a notch, gap or recess 33, which—in comparison with the notch or gap 6 of the embodiment described in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2—is rather long. The recess 33 does, however, not extend all the way to the distal end of the tubular sleeve 31, but ends a short distance proximally of the distal end of the tubular sleeve 31, such that the stationary part 31 comprises a rather short end portion 34 having a circular cross-section, as can be seen, e.g., in the distal cross-section of FIG. 5 a. The movable part 32 is basically an elongated rod-like member 32 having a proximal handle 35. The movable part 32 is slidable within the proximal portion of the tubular stationary part 31 (as can be seen, e.g., in the proximal cross-section of FIG. 5 a), but at a distal portion thereof the movable part 32 is attached inside the circular end portion 34 of the stationary part 31. Glue or solder can, for example, be used to attach a distal portion of the movable part 32 to the circular end portion 34 of the stationary part 31. In the distal cross-section shown in FIG. 5 a, an attachment layer has been indicated by the reference numeral 36. The distal portion of the movable part 32 continues, however, beyond the end portion 34 of the stationary part 31 to end in a distal end 37, which, for example, can be sharp or blunt. In this embodiment, the movable part 32 thereby constitutes the most distal portion of the steerable mandrel 30. It is, however, possible that a movable part ends within a short end portion of a stationary part, which is provided with a blunt or sharp distal end, which then constitutes the distal end of a mandrel. Further, by choosing the length of the end portion 34, the bending and thereby the steering properties of the mandrel 30 can be influenced. With a short end portion 34, the mandrel 30 bends smoothly from its very distal end (see, e.g., FIGS. 5 d and 5 e), whereas a longer end portion 34 provides a mandrel 30 that bends at a more proximal location and has a more or less straight distal end portion

The functioning of the mandrel 30 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 c to 5 e. More specifically, FIG. 5 c shows the mandrel 30 in a first or neutral position, wherein there is essentially no force acting between the stationary part 31 and the movable part 32. In FIG. 5 d, the movable part has been pushed into the stationary part, and—since the movable part is attached to the distal end of the stationary part—this movement causes a bending of the mandrel 30. A bending in the opposite direction is accomplished by retracting the movable part out of the stationary part, as is illustrated in FIG. 5 e.

Further, the mandrel 30 can—like mandrel 1 described above—be used together with another, separate sleeve, to thereby form a steerable medical penetration instrument.

This application is based on U.S. Provisional Applications 61,147,844, filed Jan. 28, 2009, and 61/187,057, filed Jun. 15, 2009, both of whose entire contents are incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, the mandrel is 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, or 10 mm in diameter and 10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm, or 40 cm long. The invention also includes methods of using the described devices.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, also shown in the appended drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many variations and modifications can be done within the scope of the invention as described in the specification and defined with reference to the claims below. It is, for example, within the scope of the present invention that an opening in a stationary part instead is a weakened section of a mantle wall of stationary part, i.e. that the weakened section has an elasticity which is high in comparison with the circumferentially opposite side of the weakened section, or that an opening in the mantle wall of a stationary part is covered with an elastic material, such as plastic, rubber or silicone. Preferably, the mandrel can thereby be provided with a smooth outer surface. 

1. A mandrel comprising a stationary part and a movable part, the stationary part comprising a tubular sleeve having a mantle wall with a longitudinal semi-circumferential opening or weakening, which divides the stationary part into a proximal portion on the proximal side of the opening or weakening and a distal portion on the distal side of the opening or weakening; the movable part comprising a rod-like member, which is slidable within the proximal portion of the stationary part; wherein the movable part is attached to the distal portion of the stationary part, and wherein the stationary part further comprises an end portion at the distal portion, said end portion having a circular cross-section, and wherein a distal portion of the movable part is attached to the end portion of the stationary part.
 2. (canceled)
 3. A mandrel according to claim 1, wherein the movable part ends in a distal end portion which extends beyond the distal end of the stationary part, to thereby form the distal end of the mandrel.
 4. A mandrel according to claim 1, wherein the stationary part ends in a narrowed end portion which extends beyond the distal end of the movable part, to thereby form the distal end of the mandrel.
 5. A mandrel according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal semi circumferential opening is provided with an elastic material.
 6. Steerable medical instrument comprising a sleeve and a mandrel according to claim 1, wherein the mandrel is adapted to be introduced into the sleeve.
 7. A mandrel according to claim 1, wherein the movable part, when moved, exerts force on the stationary part that is offset from a longitudinal centreline of the mandrel.
 8. A mandrel according to claim 1, wherein the stationary part has a semi-circular cross-section along the opening.
 9. A mandrel according to claim 1, wherein the movable part is attached to the end portion by means of an attachment layer.
 10. A mandrel according to claim 9, wherein the attachment layer is glue or soldering.
 11. Steerable medical instrument according to claim 6, wherein the movable part, at its proximal end, is provided with a turnable handle attached to an elongated piston-like member.
 12. Steerable medical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the handle is turnable in a first direction such that the distal portion of the stationary part is bent in a first direction.
 13. Steerable medical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the handle is turnable in a second direction such that the distal portion of the stationary part is bent in a second direction, opposite to said first direction. 